Nissan Autonomous Drive Ushers in New Tunnel in Japan
As a part of the opening ceremony for a new tunnel that connects the Sagamihara-Aikawa Highway Interchange and Tokyo’s Takao-san Interchange, Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa took another ride in the Nissan Autonomous Drive vehicle.
In what would otherwise be a relatively uneventful trip, the Nissan AD traveled 13.4 kilometers through tunnels and over rainy road in about 20 minutes without anyone needing to steer the vehicle.
Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa, Nissan Vice Chairman Toshiyuki Shiga, and umbrella
Governor Kuroiwa previously rode in the Nissan AD on November 25 with the vehicle made its first trip along public highways in Japan. Nissan’s road mule, which has also been tested by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, serves as the precursor for a promised production-version autonomous vehicle that could arrive as early as 2020.
Video of the AD’s first highway drive can be found below.
This latest glimpse at the Nissan Autonomous Drive was part of the effort to break in the Ogurasan Tunnel, which extends for 2,100 meters between Tokyo and Kanagawa. Nissan’s global headquarters are located in Kanagawa, at the tunnel will likely serve as the site of much testing in years to come.
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